Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-06-17
THE ROBBER GOVERNOR.
End OF the Career OF F. j Moses.
Ssme "Reminiscences 81 a Brilliant
Life Wrecked In the Sea OF
Corrupt Politics From q Governors
Chair to Prison CELIA south
Carolina Romance,

agreeable to- the pardon of Governor
Ames, but his deliversnce will be but
brief, for he escapes the prison cell only
to enter the tomb. He is not an old man,
but the excuses of earlier years have al
ready set period to his life. There will
not be many mourners st his tomb. Few
will regret the death of man who began
life with wealth of opportunity equaled
only by the reckless disregard with which
it was squsndered, together with
character, friends and honor. Less than
thirty years ago Moses, then boy Of
eighteen, had already tasted the full al
lotment of wholesome pleasure. His
fathe= was e laTyer-planter of wealth and
high social position, whose family seat
was at Sumter, S. G. Every house in
that aristocrstic Deighborhood was open
to him; from one of the richest he chose
for his wife the fsirest, and, as events
since proved, the best Of southern bellies.
When Governor PiCkens was elected
chief executive of South Carolina ne paid
political debt to the elder Moses by ap-
pointing Frank his private secretary. The
youth here found his natural element. He
was quick, magnetic, polite, forCeiul.
In his new position ne speedily became q
power throughout the whole state. Here
he was when Sumter fell, and of alI
the h0t-headed youth of the south
young Moses was the loudest in his
exultation over this event. He rushed
not to the front-but, as a ConsCript Of
fcer, enforcing the draft against mis-
former friends Thus he lost all The
popularity he had enjoyed in the south.
The people who had loved and admired
him hated him now, and when he emerg-
ed from the war, ruined, bounced upon
him with all the malignity of resentment.
His creditors denounced hlm-but in
vain, for he was pauper.
A pauper, but not daunted or without
resource. Straightway Moses was in the
Union camp, drawing Federal rauons for
his family; selling some of them, it is
even said to his more honorable but lees
thrifty neighbours He feathered MS nest
and grew in favor until he was, made a.
sociate j1dge OF the Sumter district.
Here began his infamous career of spoil.
His father was called to practice before
him, and the two hawked and peddlid
the honor of the court on equal shares
The younger Moses addressed himself 10
the Cancellation of the negroes, so that,
when the fifteenth amendment was passed,
he stood in position TO command
the new SURFACES. At the South Car
DINA Republican convention in 1867, be
so adrOitlv handled his new forces that
he at once jumped to the position of
leader Of his party. Upon his own sug-
gestion he was elected Adiutant, Inspec-
tor neral, and C member CT the Legs
lature. From this point his advance
ment was very rapid, both in power and
the profuseness OF his corruption. He
had absolute power 10 block or promote
legislation, aud in selling that power ne
had nc shame. Anything that is worth
possessing is worth paying fOr-th8t was
his motto. He threw off al reserve and
proclaimed that the machine must be
oiled, else it would bring forth no grist
Great sums thus came to his hand, but
they never amounted to his needs, for ne
was eXtravegant and waSteiul TO the last
degree. He secured the passage of q law
that gave him power to issue what were
called 'pay certificates" or Speakers
warrants on the State Treasury, which
took precedence over all other similar
paper. Using the power thus conferred,
he poured tie states money forth upon
his favOrites, scarcely CarIng to conceal
the nature of his conduct. 1t is estimated
that nearly 100000 Yves expended in
this thriving fashion. In December, 1872,
Moses was elected Governor. This advance
ment was only q signal for increased bold
ness in his raid on the public treasure
and q corresponding increase in the man
ner of his living. He signed no bill
without satisfactory quid pro quo. 1t
is on record that he once refused TO order
the payment of valid claim for 100000
until $4,000 of the amount was paid to
him. He bought the Preston mansion,
finest in the south, and spent 100000 in
improving it. He filed MS stable
with fast horses, and his
home with every mark of magnifi-
cence. Meanwhile his tastes led him into
the Yilest company. To maintain his
mold on the Colored race ne pardoned
every negro in the state penitentiary. He
bought newspaper and attempted to pay
for it with money feloniously wrested
from the state treasury. In this ne es-
caped arrest only by surrounding himself
By the state militia, and thus overaWing
the sheriff.
With the expiration OF his term of gu
bernatorIal office in 1874, came the be
ginning of Moses downfall. His friends
fell away as his power of aiding them
He retired from office
worth less than 500. For a number of
years thereafter he vsinly besieged the |
state for various officers, but his light |
was out. He went north. He returned |
again after the death of his father and |
begged of his friends another chance. !
His mother sold g small piece Of prop !
erty for few hundred dollars and gave |
him the proceeds, upon his prom |
ise that ne would 90 at once TO |
Texas and start anew. lie went, |
but only after he wss gone was it discov-
cred that he mad taken with him mis-
mothers few remaining jewels and trink-
cts. For this he vas traced TO New York |
D nd arrested, but shortly aiterward re-
sed. His wife procured & divorce and |
be became wanderer on the face of the |
earth. Many northern prison door has |
shut upon him since; for his crimes grew !
worse as his exige1cies increased. OF !
what was good in him st the start-and |
there was much-he never Tegeined q
Whit. The evil Of his character expanded !
md asserted the mastery.